Roach-trap.



No.- 858,604. PATENTED JULY 2, 1907. A. e. oons.

ROAGH TRAP.

APPLICATION rum) 0012s. 1906.

fluyusias, (bfaoobs,

Wituemao attuned;

rm: NORRIS PETERS 5a., WASHINGTON, n. c

AUGUSTUS G. JACOBS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

ROACH-TBAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J rally 2, 1907.

Application filed October 3, 1906- Serial No. 337,246.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUeUs'rUs G. JAeoBs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Roach-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in roach traps, the object of the invention being to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction, adapted to be economically manufactured and eflicient for its intended purpose.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a roach trap embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the trap which is preferably formed of wire or other reticulated material and is provided with an imperforate bottom 2 preferably formed of sheet metal and having an upstanding flange 3 to which the lower edge of the material composing the body 1 is suitably fastoned. The upper edge of the material 1 is similarly secured to a top plate 4 having an inwardly extending flange 5 which forms an overhanging guard to prevent the entrapped roaches from escaping from the trap.

A bracket plate 6 is supported upon the flange 5 and is provided with a downwardly extending flange 7 abutting against the inner edge of said flange to stay the bracket against inward strain. The bracket is formed with a longitudinal slot 8 opening through the inner edge thereof, and is provided at the ends of said slot with upturned bearing ears 9 suitably apertured for the reception of pintles 0r bearing pins 10 carried by a tilting plate or platform 11. The pins or pintles 10 are fitted in receiving keepers 12 and are arranged so as to permit the outer edge of the plate 11 to rest upon the flange 6 when said plate is in normal or horizontal position. The inner or free end of the plate 11 terminates in proximity to a bait cup 13 supported from the bottom 2 by a standard 14, said cup projectingslightly above the top of the body at or about the center thereof.

The plate 11 forms a walk or platform over which the roaches pass in attempting to reach the cup 13, and is counterbalanced by a counterbalancing weight 15 adjustably mounted upon the outer end of a supporting stem or rod 16 projecting from the hinged end of the plate, the weight being preferably provided with a threaded passage for the reception of the threaded outer end of the rod, whereby said weight may be adjusted to regulate its counterbalancing action.

The counterbalance serves to return the tilted plate to a horizontal position, the plate being held in such position by the action of a permanent magnet 17, said magnet consisting of a magnetized strip of wire fixed at one end to the bracket plate 6 and bearing at its opposite or free end-on the upper surface of the plate 11. The plate 11, in order to secure the desiredlightness, is preferably formed of aluminium, a non-magnetic material, and consequently it will be understood that suitable means must be provided to cause the magnet to attract and hold the plate in normal position. To this end, an armature strip 18 of some suitable material, capable of being attracted by the magnet, is s'ecured to the under side of the plate 11 immediately below the point of contact of the free end of the magnetic wire 17 therewith.

The counterbalance 15 is sufficient in weight to render unnecessary the use of a strong magnet. The roaches, in an endeavor to reach the bait contained in the cup 13, crawl along the plate 11 and when their weight is thrown upon said plate, inwardly beyond the center of gravity of the latter, the attraction is overcome and the plate 11 tilts downward, thus precipitating the roaches into the trap, from which they are prevented from escaping by the guard flange 5. As soon as the roaches fall from the plate 11 into the trap, the latter being relieved from the weight thereof, is swung backward by the counterbalance 15 and the conducting strip 18 comes within the zone of attraction of the magnet 17 whereby the latter will hold the plate in normal position until again operated in the manner described.

The pins 11 are slidably fitted in the keepers 12, thus allowing them to be withdrawn from engagement with the bearings 9 to permit of the convenient detachment of the plate 11 when occasion requires.

The bracket 6 may be permanently or detachably fastened upon the trap body in any preferred manner, or inlieu thereof the trap door or plate 11 may be mounted directly upon the flange 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim 1. A trap comprising a body having an open top, a bait carrier arranged at the open top and spaced at all sides from the rim thereof, a tilting trap door pivotally mounted at one and upon one side of the rim and extending toward the bait carrier, a counterweight for counterbalancing said door, and a magnet comprising a strip of magnotic material fixed at one end to the body and extending over the door, and adapted to support the same in normal position.

2. A trap comprising a body open at the top thereof and provided with a marginal rim, a bait carrier supported Within the open top of the carrier, a trap door pivotally mounted at one end upon the marginal rim and extending toward the bait carrier, :1 counterbalance upon the pivoted end of the door for counterbalancing the same, and a magnetic strip fixed at one end to the rim and extending over the door and having its free end to attract the door, whereby the latter is adapted to be held thereby in normal position.

3, A trap comprising a body open at top and having a rim provided with a marginal flange extending therein, a

bracket secured to the flange, a bait cup supported in the open top of the body, a door pivotally mounted at one end upon the bracket and extending inwardly toward the bait cup, said door being composed of non-magnetic material and having a magnetic member thereon, a counterbalance upon the pivoted end of the door, and a magnetic strip fixed at one end to the bracket and extending over the door and having its free end arranged to attract the mac;- 1t) netic member on the door to hold the latter nornmlty in horizontal position In testimony whereof, I :lllix my signature in present-e 01. two witnesses.

AUGUSTUS (i. .IAUOPS. Witnesses HANDY B. JONES, Conan M. Whmnn. 

